Increasing numbers of individuals are opting for healthcare services in the comfort of their own homes, promoting the comfort and convenience of care. Whether it is an older parent, a post-operative patient, or a patient with a chronic disease, home care has become a feasible possibility for many.
One of the features of in-home care that most appreciate is having an educated nurse who will attend to care in the home environment. But what does a home nurse do, and what does that entail? Here we will dissect the responsibilities, education, and cost of a home nurse.
Key Responsibilities of a Home Nurse
A home nurse is responsible for delivering a range of advanced and basic healthcare services to a patient in their home. The role of the home nurse will depend on the circumstances of the patient and the advice of the physician. In general, the routine duties of a home nurse may include:
- Taking vital signs: blood pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation
- Giving medications, injections
- Wound care and dressings after surgery
- IV lines and feeding tubes
- Personal activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, ambulation
- Contacting physicians and recording medical records update
In the case of patients who are chronically ill or elderly, home nurses give emotional support and also ensure that the patient is as active and involved as possible. They play a crucial role in preventing patients from being readmitted to the hospital when they are able to recognise signs of underlying issues for contact physicians.
Specialised Services Offered
Some home nurse professionals have training in special areas like palliative care, pediatric care, or postnatal support. For example:
- A nurse at home for cancer patients may help with pain management, chemotherapy side effects, and emotional comfort.
- In the case of stroke or paralysis, the nurse assists with physical therapy exercises and daily rehabilitation.
- Postnatal nurses help new mothers with breastfeeding, newborn care, and recovery after delivery.
Having this type of skilled nursing care can be life-changing for both patients and families. It reduces stress and offers personalised attention that hospitals often can’t provide long-term.
Certification and Training Requirements
To work as a home nurse, individuals must complete proper nursing education and receive certification. Most nurses at home professionals are either:
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) graduates
- Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) execute basic care actions
In many cases, these professionals will have experience in acute care settings, intensive care units, or speciality care clinics. They will also undergo some additional training through a home healthcare agency that covers aspects such as home care protocols, emergency protocols, and communication with patients.
Some agencies will also conduct background checks and ongoing assessments to ensure a home nurse continues to provide high-quality, dependable service and professional behaviour.
Cost of Hiring a Home Nurse
The cost of hiring a home nurse can vary significantly and may be impacted by:
- Determining the level of care needed (basic and advanced care)
- Determine if full-time or part-time hours are needed
- A day or night shift
- Nurse experience and qualifications
- Destination and duration of service
If the required level of care is basic, such as hygiene and medication assistance, and the part-time service is short in duration (1 day with 2 or 3 hours each morning and evening), then a reasonable daily rate may likely be enough. If the service is full-time or includes around-the-clock care where more than basic care is involved, then the hourly rates multiply quickly. A few home nurse services offer hourly, daily, and monthly flexible packages, which are intended to adapt as much as possible to the family and client’s needs and budget.
Depending on your case, some or all of the nursing costs may be covered by health insurance. Coverage is common if you are receiving nursing with respect to post-surgical care or long-term illness. You should check ahead of time with your provider or insurance company.
How to Choose a Good Home Nurse
When searching for a nurse at home, families should keep this in mind:
- Always select a nurse with verified licensure and experience in the fields required
- Ask in advance for references or reviews of the nurse from families they have worked with before.
- Make sure they can manage the specific medical issue your loved one has
- Ask if they have training in emergency protocols
- Make sure the nurse is compassionate, patient, and communicates with you and the patient effectively.
Most professional home care nursing services will offer a complimentary consultation or assessment to evaluate the patient’s specific condition and indicate what type of care will be appropriate, so families can rest easy knowing that they found someone capable and well-suited to the family’s needs.
Conclusion
Home nurses do so much more than just provide medicines. They are a combination of medical expertise and compassion that can make all the difference in someone’s recovery process. With different training and expertise, they provide hospital-level care out of the hospital on doorsteps, and allow customers to heal safely and comfortably in their own homes.
